Restaurant of the Month, Norway
Mixing international tapas flavours with gems from the Norwegian sea Tapas on the south coast of Norway? You may be a tad surprised to hear about the restaurant opening in Risør this April. But in just two months, Buene-S22 has showed everyone that fabulous tapas can indeed find their way outside of Spain, thanks to innovative twists with Asian spices and freshly caught seafood. By Helene Toftner | Photos: Buene-S22
Buene-S22 opened its doors in April to great anticipation from the locals in the seaside town of Risør. But many were surprised to see a menu full of tapas dishes, as the town is famous for its great seafood and traditional Norwegian cuisine. This is not just any old tapas restaurant, but rather a love declaration for food from around the world, mixed with the best of local ingredients. “We wanted to bring the best of home and 84 | Issue 90 | July 2016
away together,” says head chef and owner Daniel Drake. Together with his family he took over the venue last year and, after intense renovations, they finally opened in the last few months. The setting in the idyllic town of Risør is a much sought after summer destination, characterised by white sea huts in the harbour. While traditionally used by locals to store goods and
fishing equipment, these are immensely popular for housing restaurants and bars and, for some lucky people, as private residences. Buene-S22, as it happens, is the original name of the sea house now turned into the restaurant. “We have kept the traditional charm but upgraded the menu,” Drake explains.
The story behind the food It is said that the best food is cooked with love, and that is exactly what Drake is doing. While he would love for visitors to try the whole menu, he points to the BBQ pork neck as an absolute must-have. Marinated in a Korean spiced sauce, it is a delight for the taste buds. “Growing up in Berlin, I had a Korean neighbour, or